African American Soldiers Photo Archive During the Vietnam War

Black troops on base during the Vietnam era. Archive of 41 photos of a primarily Black U.S. Army soldiers in the Transportation Corps on base in 1968-69. Photos are primarily in color, with just 5 being black-and-white, and ranging in size from 3.5" x 3.5" to 3.5" x 5". These soldiers are pictured in a variety of military uniform styles, including fatigues, winter and summer uniforms, and feature interesting elements such as chrome reflective helmets, black helmets with white stripes and lettering, side caps, large white belts, shoulder cords, and red scarves (typical of T.C. soldiers at that time). One of the few black and white photos shows an African (truncated) American man posing by an entrance sign for the "Leadership School and Honor Guard' at the "U.S....Transportation Center". Another black and white photo pictures "Johnny my Running Mate", a young African American battery clerk seated at this desk. In addition, we see shots of the soldiers posed in formation with rifles raised, inside their barracks where they socialize, play cards, and shine their shoes, outside the barracks around the base, and at what seems to be a combat training site, with sandbag trenches, artillery, and a pillbox fortification. There are also a few white soldiers in the mix, with whom the primarily black subjects of this archive seem to get along with well. Overall, a lively group of photos depicting soldiers' experience prior to deployment to Vietnam. In very good condition overall. (Inventory #: 19753)